The many things I’m thankful for

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” — Psalm 107:1 (NIV)

In many ways, this year has undoubtedly been the most challenging my family has ever faced, from beginning to end and even in between there have been events that have shaken us deeply and, perhaps at times, even tested our faith.

But, if you’ve been keeping up with this blog, you should see something consistent in the diaries and post-diary thoughts on what’s been happening with us the last few weeks: our faith has been tested more than ever, but we’re holding fast to it. It hasn’t been weakened. It’s been strengthened. For that, I give thanks.

We checked our main bank account a couple of nights ago, the one that pays the big bills. So far, somehow, we’re doing okay, even after doing things like making a house payment (a tip on that if you’re in the same boat: contact your mortgage holder to see if you can arrange to get on an interest-only payment plan ASAP, at least until things turn around … thanks to the advice of our bank manager sister(-in-law) Nancy!) and having a car insurance payment getting taken out. Our finances are stretching out surprisingly well, and I do believe there’s been a guiding hand in that. For that, I give thanks.

What else am I thankful for today?

We continue to have food in our refrigerator and our cupboards.

We continue to have a roof over our heads, water running through our bathtubs and faucets, heat coming through the vents, the lights continue to come on when we flip a switch.

I have a mechanic I can trust when the brakes on the minivan need some work, knowing that his shop will do the job right the first time and not charge me an arm and a leg for it.

We have our health, now that two appendectomies have already occurred within a year’s time frame.

We have a close family, in-laws who care so much about us and are so willing and eager to offer support.

We have very good friends who will do so much to help out if we need it.

We have a wonderful church family that has been known to reach out to so many in times of need.

Greatest of all, we have many promises that our darkest days can become a thing of the past, and that brighter days can lie ahead of us. It helps to believe in that, and do all we can to help that day to happen.